Overview
This unit will provide students with an opportunity to apply the basic tenets of key investigation related issues including safety of investigators onsite, planning and preparing for the conduct of investigations, analysis of accident and related scenes of failure, taking effective photographs as evidence and conducting witness interviewing. There will also be a focus on the law as it applies to the conduct of investigations and related issues such as continuity of evidence.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
AINV11003 Introduction to Investigative Methods
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Have Your Say
"The whole unit was well presented and engaging from the lecturers. The residential school was well balanced with both practical aspects and learning opportunities. I would have liked more task scope provided on some of the exercises to allow better personal preparation."
Continue to engage with the students and ensure that the residential school is well planned and executed.
Feedback from Have Your Say
"The first assessment was a little confusing but a little more explaining or an example would assist."
Ensure that assessments are discussed during lectures/tutorials prior to attending residential school and where possible, examples are given.
- Plan and prepare for an investigation.
- Analyse an accident environment.
- Take accident photographs suitable for causation evidence.
- Conduct and record witness interviews in an appropriate manner.
- Prepare a detailed accident investigation report.
- Apply principles of investigation law and continuity of evidence.
- Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to investigative methods practice.
- Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the intermediate practitioner.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||||||
2 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 50% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
1 - Communication | ||||||||
2 - Problem Solving | ||||||||
3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||||
4 - Information Literacy | ||||||||
5 - Team Work | ||||||||
6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||||
7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||||
8 - Ethical practice | ||||||||
9 - Social Innovation | ||||||||
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||||||||
2 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 50% |
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.perry@cqu.edu.au
a.hutton@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Lecture: Overview of Course
- Unit expectations
- Crash Lab
- Crash Kit
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Laws pertaining to your investigation.
- Rights & obligations
- Safety and risk management
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: The accident scene
- Initial response
- Management
- Actions
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz Question 1 Due Monday 25 March 9am AEST
Module/Topic
Lecture: Physical evidence collection
- Gathering and preserving your evidence.
- Mapping (Sketch and scale)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Witness Interviewing
- Powers to take statements
- Planning the statement
- Hostile and uncooperative witnesses
- Cognitive interviewing
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz Question 2 Due Monday 8 April 9am AEST
Module/Topic
No lecture.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Using research to assist your investigation.
- Researching previous incidents.
- Codes of practice
- Australian standards
- Regulatory Standards
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Introduction to investigation lines of inquiry
- Introduction of Investigative Analysis Tools
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: In preparation for the residential school
- Final preparation
- Expectations / professionalism
- Explanation of processes required
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Risk Assessment for Residential School due Monday 6 May 2019 9.00am AEST
Quiz Question 4 Due Monday 6 May 9am AEST
Module/Topic
Residential School
- Management of accident scenario
- Assistant investigator to a scenario (mapper, photographer etc)
- Collecting evidence
- Delivering a presentation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School 13 - 17 May, Bundaberg Crash Lab
PART A - Crash Kit to be assessed 13 May 10am AEST at residential school
PART B and Part C of the Portfolio will be due for submission on the final day of the residential school
Part D - Professionalism will be assessed during the residential school.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Presentation slides to be submitted 20 May 2019 9.00am.
Module/Topic
Lecture: Preparing report.
- Purpose
- Audiences
- Report structure
- Writing style
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Advanced mapping techniques
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom Q & A session - Questions will be answered about final report.
Preliminary Report and Reflection Due: Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
You will participate in 4 quizzes about OHS relating to your investigation activities at the Crash Lab in Bundaberg. The questions will include areas such as:
- Australian standards
- Hazards
- Policies and procedures
- Control measures
A word limit of maximum 300 words applies to each of the 4 answers and referencing is required.
This assessment task is worth 20% of the total marks for this unit.
You will submit your answers in the Online Quiz Discussion Forum in Moodle.
4
Question 1 due 0900 Mon 25 Mar; Question 2 due 0900 Mon 8 Apr; Question 3 due 0900 Mon 22 April; Question 4 due 0900 Mon 6 May
Feedback within 1 week of submission
The detailed assessment criteria for each part will be provided and explained during the term. In summary, students will be assessed on their demonstration of:
- Technical knowledge and application of the steps of the risk management process
- Application of the risk management process to the Crash Lab environment
- Written expression
- Referencing
A detailed marking rubric will be available in Moodle at the commencement of term.
- Plan and prepare for an investigation.
- Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to investigative methods practice.
- Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the intermediate practitioner.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Portfolio
Part A: Preparedness (6%)
This assessment is designed to ensure that you are well prepared for your practicum at the crash lab. This assessment requires you to undertake a series of activities that will help you maximise your preparedness to be successful.
In order to achieve this you will need to:
- Review relevant literature (textbooks, websites, etc) to identify suitable literature, document templates and tools to support your investigation activities at the crash lab.
- Review the feedback you received for your workbook assessment tasks in AINV11003 Introduction to Investigative Methods.
- Review your learning from all previous AINV courses.
- Participate in the course lectures, or watch the recordings in Moodle, each week in the lead up to the residential school (Students in previous years have found this to be invaluable).
- Prepare your crash kit, including all document templates and copies, to bring to the residential school. The minimum requirements for your crash kit will be discussed during the lectures and in Moodle. Your crash kit will be assessed on the first day of the residential school.
- Complete a risk assessment of the hazards, risks and issues you might expect to encounter at the crash lab. As a minimum, you should assess the hazards you might expect to encounter at a two car collision on a suburban road. NOTE: The risk assessment needs to be submitted 1 week prior to the first day of the residential school.
Part B: Scene Management and Collection (18%)
During the residential school activities you will be working in teams. Each student will have the opportunity to collect and document physical evidence, take photographs of an accident scene, map an accident scene, interview witnesses and lead an investigation team.
You will update and add to their portfolios during the scheduled activities in the Crash Lab. These will include:
- Contemporaneous notes
- Accident scene sketches
- Evidence and photograph logs
- Continuity Records
- Photographs of the scene
- Witness statements
- Construction of a basic event tree
Before the end of the residential school, your portfolios will be assessed so that you can demonstrate your understanding of the material you have collected. Your professionalism, team leadership, team participation and witness interview technique will also be assessed during the activities at the residential school.
Note: You will be required to share your portfolio items you created at the res school with other members of your investigation team, so that your team members can complete their own practicum reports following the res school. Please make sure you bring a large capacity USB stick to the res school so that you can easily share files with your peers.
Please note: For members of your investigation teams to successfully finalise their portfolio items you will need to share the artefacts that you collected or created during the investigation of the accidents scenes. Failure to provide this information to your investigation team members in the period specified by your lecturers, will result in an automatic fail of this assignment.
Part C: Presentation (6%)
During the residential school you will develop and present a 10 minute talk, with supporting visual media on a topic to be advised during residential school. The instructions for this presentation will be provided on Day 1 of residential school. You will submit the visual media via Moodle by 0900 hours of the Monday after your residential school.
Part D: Professionalism: (Pass/Fail)
Throughout the Residential School students will be assessed on their ability to apply professional approaches to all activities.
Risk Assessment to be submitted 6 May 2019 9am (AEST). Portfolios will be assessed onsite at the crash lab. Presentation material to be submitted the Monday following the residential school. Further details of the assessment arrangements will be included in Moodle and at the commencement of the residential school.
Feedback will be provided on portfolio work before students leave the residential school
Note: This assessment- parts A, B & C is marked out of 100 marks in total, representing 30% of the overall grade for this unit. Part D is a Pass/Fail component. Part D must be passed in this assessment to pass the unit.
PART A: - Preparedness 20 marks (Crash Kit 10 marks, risk assessment 10 marks) Students are required to attend the first morning of the residential school with a complete crash kit as detailed during the lectures. Failure to a complete crash kit will result in the student being excluded from the practical activities of the residential school until the shortcomings are corrected.
PART B: - Scene Management & Evidence Collection 60 marks (Scene management 20 marks, physical evidence collection 20 marks, witness statement 20 marks)
Scene Management - Management of the allocated team in the control of the accident site, and management of the team to undertake onsite duties for a thorough investigation.
Physical Evidence Collection – has collected, engaged with and can verbally explain:
- the photograph.
- sketch map and the process required to develop a scale map from this.
- log sheets completed by their team.
Also has
- witness statement - has identified the appropriate witness, planned questions, collects a statement using appropriate techniques and prepares a written witness statement.
- sufficient materials and understanding to be able to prepare a report.
- recognised weaknesses in collected materials and has a plan to address any shortcomings identified.
PART C: – Presentation 20 marks
Presentation – Presentation style, formatting & content will be marked against a matrix provided to the students prior to the residential school.
PART D:– Professionalism (Pass/Fail) Throughout the residential school, students are expected to apply professional approaches to all activities.
A detailed marking rubric will be available in Moodle at the commencement of term.
- Analyse an accident environment.
- Take accident photographs suitable for causation evidence.
- Conduct and record witness interviews in an appropriate manner.
- Apply principles of investigation law and continuity of evidence.
- Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to investigative methods practice.
- Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the intermediate practitioner.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
Following the residential school, you are required to prepare and submit a complete set of consolidated evidence artefacts in a preliminary report. You are also required to produce a reflection on the tasks you undertook at the residential school.
You are required to submit 2 documents:
1. Report
The evidence artefacts gathered during residential school need to be consolidated and presented in a report style document and should include, but not be limited to:
- Executive Summary pertaining to the accident you were managing
- Table of contents
- Background of accident you were managing
- Preliminary analysis (event tree)
- All logs for the accident you were managing. (Photograph, Evidence, Continuity, Access)
- Minimum of 15 photos demonstrating the activities taken at both.
- the accident you were managing, and
- the accident you were photographer for (total 30 photos)
- Sketch map of both
- the accident you were managing, and
- the accident you were map maker for.
- The scale map document prepared by you of the scene you were mapper for.
- The signed witness statement you collected.
- Outline what evidence you would wish to collect to assist you with your investigation and further lines of enquiry (mind map, or grouped listing etc.).
Artefacts should be appropriately captioned and sequenced in the report.
2. Reflection (approx. 1,000 words)
Practicum work conducted in the crash lab will emulate the evidence gathering in an accident investigation in the field and students will apply their knowledge of investigation methods. Following the residential school, you will:
- Review your performance in the portfolio and address any weaknesses
- Review and update your crash kit in readiness for your next investigation
- Review your practicum assessment outcomes from the residential school and reflect on potential remedial actions
- Reflect on your preparation and capacity for leadership of investigation teams
- Reflect on your professional practice confidence and competence during the residential school activities
- Highlight any changes you would make to your investigation undertaken.
Please note: For members of your investigation teams to successfully finalise their portfolio items you will need to share the artefacts that you collected or created during the investigation of the accident scenes. This is a component of professionalism and failure to provide this information to your investigation team members in a timely manner, will result in an automatic fail of this assignment.
We will discuss the expectations with regard to this assessment thoroughly prior to and during the residential school.
A detailed marking rubric will be available in Moodle at the commencement of term.
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Three weeks following submission
Report (40%)
The report should be a professionally presented format consisting of 1 .pdf file. it should contain the materials listed in the task. You will be assessed on:- The structure and layout of the document
- The accuracy of the material provided
- Depth of the background information
- Selection of photographs demonstrating the activities at the sites.
- Photograph quality
- Completeness of sketch map when you were mapper
- Accuracy of the scale map document produced
- The efficacy of the preliminary analysis (event tree)
- Extent of list of proposed lines of enquiry.
The document will be presented professionally, well set out and all copied material is required to be legible.
Reflection (10%)
Practicum work conducted in the crash lab will emulate the evidence gathering in an accident investigation in the field and students will apply their knowledge of investigation methods. Following the residential school, you are required to write a reflective piece covering the points set out in the task. You will be assessed on:
- Document structure
- Depth of reflection
- Any weaknesses are addressed with realistic remedial actions
- Punctuation and grammar
Please note: For members of your investigation teams to successfully finalise their portfolio items you will need to share the artefacts that you collected or created during the investigation of the accident scenes. Failure to provide this information to your investigation team members in the period specified by your lecturers, will result in an automatic fail of this assignment.
We will discuss the expectations with regard to this assessment thoroughly prior to and during the residential school
- Analyse an accident environment.
- Take accident photographs suitable for causation evidence.
- Conduct and record witness interviews in an appropriate manner.
- Prepare a detailed accident investigation report.
- Apply principles of investigation law and continuity of evidence.
- Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to investigative methods practice.
- Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the intermediate practitioner.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.